Comments on: Living with “Restaurant Syndrome”

By: Ang

Ang — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:49:13 +0000

And, I suggest reading “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite” by David Kessler. I read it over a month ago and it really explained a lot! Who would have thought that some foods actually make us hungrier?

I have struggled with obesity my whole life–seriously, I was fat at age 7–and it has been the most helpful information I have found. I have drastically cut out processed foods from my diet and lost about 10 lbs. And I don’t obsess about food anymore! Well, except when I baked brownies this weekend to take to a dinner party…they were amazing so it was worth it!

I would also be interested in the difference in fine dining and regular restaurants. I have noticed that very expensive restaurants serve tiny portions, which I now prefer. They give you an amazing course with just a few bites so you don’t overdo. And it isn’t “fake” like the stuff you get at big chains.

By: Ang

Ang — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:40:34 +0000

Good advice. I do have to say, though, the french fry thing is not silly. My hubby and I will keep nibbling on fries until they are taken away. If you have slow service, sometimes the only defense it to make them undesirable. That usually means dumping a packet or two of sugar on the tempting little things.

By: araleiss

araleiss — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:02:57 +0000

Number three on your list is great advice. Many lists like this tell you to box up half your meal before you start, but that isn’t really feasible and may make some people uncomfortable. If you eat slowly and come to a slow halt at your mental line, you don’t have to worry about social stigma OR your waistline.

And one thing I’ve noticed: don’t order alfredo at a restaurant unless there’s something else about the dish that is intriguing. Alfredo is simple to make at home, you avoid drowning your pasta in fatty sauce, and even if you use really high-quality cheese it’s still cheaper than paying for it at a restaurant.

And I definitely agree with the advice to share dessert. If you eat dinner until satiated, you may still want a few bites of something sweet to emphasize the end of the meal. Often desserts can be more than just a few bites, so sharing is both economical and good food advice.

By: Jen Miller

Jen Miller — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:59:06 +0000

Great post, Joy. I had to go to a Ruby Tuesdays today (because that’s where the group wanted to go) and man oh man are you right about portions! I went with the salad bar.

By: Brigid Kaelin

Brigid Kaelin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:24:14 +0000

These are great, Joy. It’s funny, my blog today was about how I am always dining out. I wrote several paragraphs about restaurants make weight control difficult … then deleted them because it was making me mad.
been loving your blog, by the way. keep it up.

By: ElJayBee

ElJayBee — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:25:59 +0000

Yes, yes, YES to #5. I swear that learning to NOT overeat was the main reason I was able to drop 20% of my body weight 3 years ago, and keep it off. I used to think that if one bite of [insert yummy food item here] made my mouth sing with joy and made me happy, that 10 bites of [yummy food item] would make me 10 times as happy. No…it just made me 10 times as fat. And learning that my 5-foot self does NOT need to eat the same volume of food as my 6-foot husband. It’s what addiction is all about….doing more of X even though a little bit of X is all you need.

By: Jen on the Edge

Jen on the Edge — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:57:12 +0000

These are fabulous tips!

By: April

April — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:50:50 +0000

Great retort to Ms. Robert’s article. I am a woman that 2 years ago was a size 24 and is now hovering between a size 12-14 and I know first-hand how hard it is to control everything you eat when you go out.

I started out making lots of requests of the kitchen, but now I just choose carefully, and when I want the fried chicken, or something awesome with a cream sauce, I eat it, just not all of it.

What you said is true, take the rest home and make everyone you work with jealous because you have a 3-5 star lunch to eat! I have started sharing meals with my husband and friends, and still always piling on the fresh (often raw or steamed) veggies so I can enjoy the tastier things on the menu.

Another great idea, to tag onto walking to a restaurant; bike rides. I love riding my bike everywhere, and going out to eat on bike dates is no different. It’s amazing what you can get away with eating AND enjoying when you rode 5-10 miles 1 way to get there.

Thank you for writing something that is easy to understand and makes sense for us foodies that really try to eat out and enjoy someone else cooking, every once in a while.

By: smw

smw — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:20:13 +0000

Hear, hear. Well said. It’s a shame that ridiculous articles keep getting published like clockwork this time each year (and again at the holidays.) My personal, um, “favorite” suggestion by Ms. Roberts:

“4. Micromanage your order. What isn’t on the table doesn’t get inside your head, so micromanage your order. Simple requests like asking for dressing on the side are only the start. Just because the French onion soup usually comes with gobs of cheese and bread doesn’t mean your serving has to. And they really don’t need to put anything under that delicious spicy grilled fish or add butter on top once it is cooked.”

Oh, for the love of gods. If you want to instruct the chef on how how much butter to use, open your own restaurant or cook at home.